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Author: Joel Ballezza

With 2010 officially over, I logged into Garmin’s Connect site to check out my stats from the past year. Since I consistently wear a GPS-enabled watch (I prefer the Forerunner 3010xt), my pace, distance, elevation gain/loss and speed were recorded over a year’s worth of outings. …

Yesterday, I, along with 140 other runners, ran the Baker Lake 50K Race. The 31 mile course was an out-and-back with a single aid station at mile 15. Just before the race began at 8am, I bumped into the store manager of West Seattle Runner and competitive runner, Justin Craig. After asking what time he was aiming for, Justin offered “Oh, I’m just out here to have fun.” …

When you’re pounding downhill, whether on a trail or road, it’s easy to relax and leg your quads take the strain. And on shorter runs, 2 -5 miles, this might not be problem. However, if you’re training or racing in anything longer, consider focusing on your abs as your run downhill. …

Google “Running” and your search results will include thousands of photos of people pounding down city streets and jogging along county roads. However, this is only part of the joy of running. Beyond the manicured tracks and paved roads are miles of dusty, rocky and rooted trails calling your name. While you might not get a marathon PR on the steep ascents and rugged terrain, trail running guarantees an adventure. …